Working for a better economy, better government and a better society
How really to help low-income earners
Minimum wage hikes are often promoted as a way to help the less fortunate out of poverty. But are they really the best tool for the job? This week, I was privileged to be part of a panel discussion on the minimum wage, and how it fits in with the broader concept of...
Hawaii needs a handy ‘adjust policy’ tab
I just gave Hawaii the best economic outlook in the country, and all it took was a few mouse clicks. Typically, Hawaii ends up in the bottom half among all states in the many surveys of economic freedom and outlook. For example, the Economic Freedom of North America...
Hawaii residents voting with their feet
Would you vote with your feet? If economic conditions got bad enough, would you choose to live elsewhere? That’s a recurring theme in the most recent edition of Rich States, Poor States, the ALEC-Laffer state economic competitiveness index written by Jonathan...
Gas tax proposal just more of the same
After watching so many State of the State addresses, I’ve learned to regard them as something more than a summary of the state’s political outlook. In fact, they’ve started to seem a lot like wish lists. The governor outlines everything his party would like to get in...
Hawaii’s coming recession
Talk of recession is in the air, but are Hawaii legislators listening? I wouldn’t presume to predict the future, but there have been indications that an economic downturn might be in Hawaii’s future. Gov. David Ige in his most recent budget projected state revenues...